It isn’t an pleasant factor to be pessimistic about your favourite crew. Round right here all of us have our collective opinions in regards to the Dallas Cowboys, however the bedrock of all of them is a shared widespread denominator. We need to see the Dallas Cowboys succeed and win.
Criticizing the crew or noting their failures in sure areas doesn’t make this unfaithful for anybody particular person or fan. Nice figures, coaches and gamers enhance this crew’s franchise historical past and established expectations of the annual group that all of us need to see upheld.
This didn’t occur in any manner on Sunday, however as we wrote in our postgame recap, it didn’t occur starting over the previous offseason. Dallas was no match for the Baltimore Ravens not due to what occurred on Sunday particularly, however due to what occurred in March and April. Finding out for the take a look at 10 minutes earlier than it begins is a nasty behavior.
Maybe you might be pleased with the “comeback” that the Cowboys mounted in opposition to the Ravens on Sunday, however you’ll forgive me for locating it a bit hole in general nature.
That is our inventory report following the most recent mess this crew churned out and all arrows are southbound, besides one.
Let’s start.
Inventory Down: Dak Prescott
We’re beginning right here as a result of he’s the chief of the crew, however he was removed from the largest subject on Sunday. As an entire Prescott’s day appears nice statistically, however like the remainder of his teammates, he discovered his kind far too late for it to really matter. In the mean time Prescott appears to be starring in weekly episodes of Chopped the place he’s requested to make filet mignon out of gummy bears and cheese, today really feel similar to the early ones of 2018 and the notorious extensive receiver by committee strategy.
That stated, he’s appropriate in what he stated postgame in that the offense has to do extra to assist the protection. The protection is a large drawback in and of itself proper now, however they did stand tall after getting punched within the mouth a number of instances. Baltimore punted twice after their first two touchdowns and the Cowboys turned these into zero factors. The quarterback owns his fair proportion of accountability for that.
Inventory Down: CeeDee Lamb
However so does the one that fumbled on the primary possession in query and it was CeeDee Lamb. There are lots of sizzling takes flying round proper now about CeeDee with phrases like “quitting” and “pouting” being tossed about. That isn’t my fashion, however the broadcast did seem to indicate a participant quite disinterested in what was occurring round him.
It’s honest to say {that a} lack of coaching camp might be hindering Lamb’s effectiveness proper now. When you can “blame” Lamb for that, it’s onerous to say that what he did was fallacious so far as himself individually. Gamers have a proper to handle their enterprise.
However that doesn’t imply which you could try of a sport when your crew is mounting a comeback of types (it nonetheless feels foolish to name it that). When the warmth is on and all the pieces is intense, that’s if you find yourself wanted essentially the most. Provided that final season featured related discussions round Lamb when the Cowboys misplaced big-time video games, this was only a disappointing factor to see occur.
Inventory Down: Tyler Guyton
It feels so unfair to say this about him as a result of he’s being requested to climb fairly the hill with no actual data of the lay of the land. Who would have thought taking part in left deal with within the NFL was onerous?!
Guyton could very effectively wind up being an awesome participant for this group, however the actuality is that he’s not one proper now. Actually, for the time being he’s beneath common. Is that stunning? Is it an awesome shock that by way of three NFL begins we aren’t witnessing the best deal with of all time? Relying on rookies is all the time a daring roll of the cube and right here we’re.
Inventory Down: Terence Steele
The good thing about being inexperienced can’t be utilized to Terence Steele as he’s in his fifth NFL season and on his second contract with the Cowboys. Poor efficiency can’t be tolerated right here.
You’ll suppose that with Guyton on an island (so to talk) that Prescott and the Cowboys may rely upon the savvy veteran on the opposite aspect to stabilize the ship. That isn’t the case.
Steele is the second-longest tenured veteran on the offensive line. The standard of play that we now have seen from him by way of three video games doesn’t replicate that.
Inventory Down: Mike McCarthy
These usually are not ranked by any means, however you may put Mike McCarthy on the very high. McCarthy has finished some unbelievable issues (comparatively talking) all through his tenure, and whereas we’d all agree that he’s not precisely in a steady scenario, what we’re seeing from each the pinnacle coach and offensive play-caller is unacceptable.
From a head teaching standpoint McCarthy has outdone Jason Garrett in nearly each single manner, aside from one. It is a bit ambiguous however you’ll recall after we would speak about how the Cowboys gamers all the time put out effort for Garrett, though they lastly didn’t on the finish. We’re seeing a ton of low effort left and proper from this group proper now. However how will you blame them once they know he’s in a contract 12 months? There is no such thing as a stability. That isn’t McCarthy’s fault.
From a play-calling standpoint there is no such thing as a design on offense. What occurred to movement? To scheming gamers open? We have now seen it! Sitting again and asking everybody to play hero ball will not be a viable technique but right here we’re.
Inventory Down: Micah Parsons
For what it’s price, Parsons remains to be arguably the perfect participant on this crew, however he issued a word final week that this sport could be a press release alternative of types. Good for him.
However while you say issues like that and fall quick, it’s consultant that issues in the home usually are not precisely so as. Parsons is just one participant and he appears to be making an attempt his hardest, however he isn’t a difference-maker proper now. We’re asking him to do extra and be much more unbelievable. That’s unfair in nature, however he has walked and talked just like the form of participant who welcomes these alternatives.
Inventory Down: Caelen Carson
As soon as once more, severely, relying on rookies initially of their careers will not be solely unwise however doubtlessly damaging to their long-term success. Caelen Carson appears nothing just like the participant who impressed all all through coaching camp. He missed what gave the impression to be a straightforward deal with on Nelson Agholor that became a large achieve. That may’t occur.
Total this “scenario” is the one the place Dallas deserves the least quantity of blame. DaRon Bland’s damage was unpredictable and it set them up poorly. However that is the place not hedging bets upfront of something can come residence to roost.
Inventory Down: Mazi Smith
Truthfully what extra can we are saying? Piling on for piling on’s sake simply feels imply. Sadly, the Cowboys wouldn’t have a lot of a alternative right here as a result of poor play, accidents and no matter you need to name what occurred with Jordan Phillips. Anticipating Smith to be nice as a result of he was a first-round choose final 12 months is screaming into the void.
Inventory Down: Mike Zimmer
The one different candidates who the Cowboys reportedly thought of for his or her defensive coordinator place exterior of Mike Zimmer had been Rex Ryan and Ron Rivera. This all the time felt sketchy to me.
Zimmer appears like he’s no match for the NFL’s trendy sport and the way may he be? He’s been out of the league for a number of years. We all know his identify and have reminiscences of group’s dominating beneath his command so the nostalgia in us needed this to be nice just like the reboot of any sitcom from our youth, however none of these exhibits ever work out. This one hasn’t both.
What’s extra is {that a} hallmark of types of Zimmer’s previous is that teams are tough and difficult and have combat and nastiness to their video games. This Cowboys protection allowed 158 yards on Sunday because of damaged tackles. You can not inform me that it is a group who performs with self-discipline.
Inventory Up: Brandon Aubrey
The dude hit a 65-yard subject objective. He rocks. That’s all I’ve acquired.
